Construct Validity and Reliability of the Finnish Version of the Demand-Control Questionnaire in Two Samples of 1028 Teachers and 630 Nurses

The job demand-control (JDC) model has dominated research into occupational stress for the last 20 years. Two concepts lie at the core of the demand-control model: job demands and job control. Control is also referred to as decision latitude and the concept has two facets: decision authority and skill discretion. The purpose of the current study was to conduct an empirically correct specification of the key concepts of the JDC model. The Scandinavian version of an instrument assessing the key concepts of the model was used and the objective of the study was to test the validity and reliability of the Finnish version of the job content questionnaire (JCQ) among teachers and nurses. Altogether 1028 teachers and 630 nurses participated. Exploratory factor and confirmatory analyses were employed to assess the factorial structure of the Finnish version of the JCQ and to evaluate which factorial model fitted the data best. Analyses indicated a factor solution with two factors: job demands and decision authority. The confirmatory factor analyses supported the results from the exploratory factor analyses. The model which fitted the data best was the model with two oblique factors with the items measuring skill discretion removed. Based on the results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses it seems reasonable to measure job demands and control in this sample with two factors: demand and decision authority.